Microsoft rumored to release Windows 9 preview as soon as next month

Microsoft is ramping up for Windows Threshold, the codename of its upcoming next-gen OS, Windows 9. The Redmond-based giant is reportedly set to launch a preview release of Windows 9 in either late September, or early October, according to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.

The company will make the Windows 9 preview available to all, so that everyone can test it out. We should expect the new, new Start menu, as well as new live tiles and the ability to run Metro applications in windows. The Charms bar should be gone, with Metro apps seeing their own embedded search, share and print buttons.

Another big feature to expect in Windows 9 is virtual desktop support, which is the first time Microsoft has baked in native support for users. We should also see the company's digital assistant Cortana featured, but we don't know if this will make the early preview build. The best part of Windows 9 is the rumor that it could eventually be released for free to Windows XP, Vista and 7 users.